Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of medical trauma, cardiac arrest, and near-death experiences. Please listen with care.

In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise sits down with Kate, a Kansas City native, wife, mom of six in a blended family, nana of three, and women's Bible study leader. This conversation is tender, faith-filled, and full of the kind of perspective that only comes when God carries you through what should have been your final moments.

In June of this year, at just 44 years old, Kate suffered a sudden and life-threatening heart attack — the kind doctors call a "widowmaker." Her heart stopped. She coded. And yet… God said "not yet." Her story is nothing short of miraculous.

Kate shares openly about the moments leading up to the heart attack, the peace she felt when everything went dark, and how the kindness of God sustained her through open-heart surgery, rapid healing, and the emotional processing that came after. She also shares how this experience transformed her marriage, deepened her trust in God, and clarified her purpose in this season of life.

Together, Cherise and Kate talk about what it means to release control, trust God with your children, and stay rooted in Scripture through every season — the ordinary, the overwhelming, and the holy.

What We Cover:

• Kate's journey of faith from childhood through adulthood

• The day her heart suddenly stopped — and the miracle moments that followed

• How God used her husband's presence, EMTs, and timing in supernatural ways

• The healing process after emergency open-heart surgery

• The emotional tension of "I should have died… but God kept me here"

• Parenting adult children vs. raising a younger child again

• How this experience reshaped her marriage and her view of her husband

• Learning to love Scripture, discipleship, and the everyday faithfulness of walking with Jesus

• Seeing God's kindness in both crisis and the mundane

Key Quotes:

"I wasn't aware I was dying — I was only aware of God's peace. In the darkness, I just said, 'Okay God, it's me and You. What are we doing?'"

"God orchestrated every detail. If it wasn't my time, it wasn't my time — and nothing was going to stop His plan."

Connect with Kate:

Kate leads women's Bible studies and serves in Care & Compassion Ministries at her church in Kansas City.

Join the Conversation:

How has God met you in a moment you didn't expect? Share your story with us on Instagram or inside our Facebook community!

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Take the Next Step:

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Until next week, friends! 💛